Tug strap protector



May 15, 1934. l. 0. LOVE 1,958,669

TUG STRAP PROTECTOR Filed July 31, 1955 ,fdezz 6*. Lei/e Patented May 15, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TUG STRAP PROTECTOR Iden U. Love, Odon, Ind.

Application July 31, 1933, Serial No. 683,082

3 Claims.

tug strap protector which will effectually connect the tug strap with the belly band billet, choke, or flank strap, and/or such other straps as may be needed in the harnessing of the horse.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tug strap protector which Will be of such construction that a maximum amount of flexibility,

I without lost motion, will be accorded the strap.

' the horse.

And a still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will be particularly noted for its simplicity and consequent cheapness of manufacture.

The invention contemplates other objects, not hereinbefore set forth, which objects, it is believed, will be readily apparent during the course of the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective View showing my tug strap protector as it would appear installed on a harness, the harness being shown properly hitched to a horse.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail plan view of my improved tug strap protector, a portion thereof being shown in section, and

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the device.

Referring now more particularly to the accomi panying drawing wherein it will be observed that like numerals of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral 1 indicates a tug strap which is connected to the hames of a horse, said hames being connected to the collar. The tug strap is adapted for connection, at its outer end, with suitable draft implements, such as a small plow, a wagon, or the like. It will be understood that a tug strap, similar to the tug strap 1, is located at the opposite side of Generally located beneath the horse is the belly band billet 2, while extending over the top of the horses back is the back strap 3, which may be of any desired ornamentation or style that the maker wishes to employ.

It should be understood that while one of my improved tug strap protectors is employed with each of the tug straps, they are of identical construction and therefore a description of one will suflice for both. A typical tug strap protector includes a pair of plates 4 and 5 which are located at the lower edge of the tug strap 1 and are connected by a substantially U-shaped loop 6. The loop 6 is adapted to receive the end of the belly band billet therethrough and said belly band billet may be secured by means of a snap fastener or buckle, as the specific conditions require. The loop is secured to the plates 4 and 5 by having its ends upset within the plates adjacent the lower edge of the tug strap 1. It should be understood that the loop may be formed of brass, steel, or any other desired rugged metal, and, if desired, may be formed integral with the plates.

Mounted on the top edge of the tug strap 1 are plates 7 and 8, the plate 7 being in vertical alinement with the plate 4 and the plate 8 having its inner end in vertical alinement with the inner end of the plate 5. The plate 8, however, is relatively long with respect to the other mentioned plates and is provided with a preferably heavy metal loop 9. As best seen in Figure 2 of the drawing, the loop 9 is so mounted that it will be disposed rearwardly and obliquely so that a flank strap, such as is indicated at 10, may be secured to the tug strap protector when the choke strap is not being used. Extending between the plates 7 and 8 and in alinement with the loop 6 is a substantially inverted U- shaped loop 11 which is connected with the plates '7 and 8 in a manner identical with that employed for connecting the loop 6 with the plates 4 and 5. The loop 11 is adapted to receive the end of the market strap 12. which is secured to the back strap 3.

Extending throughout the height of the tug strap and through the plates, at corresponding opposite ends of the loops, are tie-bolts 13 which are threaded at their lower ends to receive securing nuts 14. The bolts 13 serve efiectually to retain the plates and loops in cooperative relation on the tug straps.

It will be seen that after the respective straps, hereinbefore described, have been connected with the tug strap protector, a very flexible connection for said straps with the tug strap will be provided and consequently wear upon the straps will be greatly minimized and, at the same time, greater comfort for the horse will be provided. It is accordingly believed that a reading of the foregoing description will disclose that I have provided a device of this character which will be simple in construction and highly efficient in use.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. The combination with a tug strap, of plates mounted at opposite edges of the tug strap,

loops connecting the plates, one of said plates being extended, a loop carried on said extended plate, all of said loops being adapted to receive straps of a harness, and bolts extending through the plates and through the tug strap and adapted for retaining said plates and loops on the tug strap.

2. The combination with a tug strap, of a tug strap protector including pairs of plates mounted at opposite edges of the tug strap, loops conneoting corresponding pairs of plates, a plate of' one of said pairs of plates being extended, a loop mounted on said plate in angular relation thereto, and bolts extending through the plates and connecting said plates with the tug strap, all of said loops being adapted to receive straps forming a part of harness.

3. The combination with a tug strap protector,

of plates secured to one edge of the tug strap, a U-shaped loop connecting the plates and adapted to receive a strap, a second pair of plates mounted on the opposite edge of the tug strap, an inverted U-shaped loop connecting the second-mentioned pair of plates and being disposed opposite said first-mentioned loop, one of the second-mentioned pair of plates being extended along the tug strap, a loop mounted on said last-mentioned plate and disposed obliquely withre's'pect'tothe plate and said first and second-mentioned loops and adapted to receive a strap, and bolts extending through the plates and through the tug strap and adapted for retaining the plates and loops in position on the strap.

IDEN C. LOVE [L.s.] 

